Former chairman of Democratic Party starts foundation

BIRMINGHAM | The former chairman of Alabama’s Democratic Party launched a new foundation Monday to raise money and recruit candidates to combat the overwhelming dominance of Republicans in the state.

By Jay ReevesThe Associated Press

BIRMINGHAM | The former chairman of Alabama’s Democratic Party launched a new foundation Monday to raise money and recruit candidates to combat the overwhelming dominance of Republicans in the state. Mark Kennedy staged an event to announce the formation of the Alabama Democratic Majority as his resignation as party chairman officially took effect. Kennedy, a former member of the Alabama Supreme Court, said the new group is a foundation that will “stand with the party,” not act as a party on its own. But he spared little criticism of the current Democratic structure in Alabama, saying Democrats haven’t done enough to bring in supporters or appeal to a wide electoral base across the state. “We will fight to make the Alabama Democratic Party representative of a broader spectrum of all Democrats,” Kennedy told about 100 supporters in a downtown building. Republicans hold every statewide office and have super-majorities in both houses of the Legislature, allowing them to virtually pass legislation at will. Kennedy’s break with the party structure followed months of inter-party squabbling over budgets, debt, staff and control. Kennedy has been at odds with longtime party vice chairman Joe Reed, the head of the party’s black caucus and a longtime leader in the Alabama Education Association. Reed said the party’s entire three-person staff bolted with Kennedy, leaving other party leaders to pay overdue bills and past-due rent on the party headquarters in Montgomery. Reed said the party could wind up in worse shape financially if the foundation siphons away funds. “I think he’s really raising money to run for governor or raising money for some of his friends,” Reed said in a telephone interview. Kennedy, son-in-law of the late Gov. George C. Wallace, denied having any interest in the governorship or any other elective office. Republicans said the split showed the weakness of Alabama’s once-dominant Democratic Party. “The problem with the Alabama Democrat Party is not its leadership but it’s their failed policies of the past and lack of ideas for the future,” state GOP chairman Bill Armistead said in a statement. Doug Jones, a Democratic lawyer who served as U.S. attorney for north Alabama under former President Bill Clinton, said he was hopeful Kennedy’s group would breathe new ideas and life into the party rather than divide it. “It’s worth the risk,” said Jones. “Frankly we can’t go much lower. We have no statewide offices.” Supporters of the new group include former Democratic Gov. Jim Folsom and his wife, Marsha Folsom. The ex-governor had a scheduling conflict and didn’t attend, but his wife spoke on Kennedy’s behalf. “This is a new day for our beloved state,” she said to cheers. The GOP said more than 50 state Democrats switched to the Republican Party since last year. With state government firmly in control, the party is concentrating more on local offices where Democrats still hold sway. “The number one target for the Alabama Republican Party at the county level next year will be office of sheriff,” said Armistead. “We are currently recruiting candidates to run in the counties where the Democrats hold this office and where Republicans have a record of winning elections.”

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